The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-25

tabecloth, and sett up the said meat. withou.
laying 1t any knyfe then say; Here l cit
and fain would eat. if my sweetheart would
come and bring me a knyfe;' whereupon a COST
in shape of man presenteth her with a knife,
and such one her future husband will bee"
Speaking of old customs, another strange one
of English farmers was that of lighting thirteen
fires in the corn fields on the eve of old Christ
mas day-twelve of them in a circle. and one in
the center round pole, larger and higher than
the rest, These fires were digaifed with the
of the Virgin Mary and the twelve
apostles the lady being in the middle: and while
they were burning the laborers retired into
some shed or clubhouse, where they beheld the
brightness of the apostolic flames. In this shed
they led cow, whose horns large plum
cake had been stuck, and having assembled
round the animal, the oldest laborer took pail
of cider and addressed the following lines to the
cow with great solemnity:
Here's to thy pretty face, and thy white horn;
God send thy master good crop of corn,
Both wheat, rye and barley, and all sorts of grain,
And next year, if we like, we'll drink to thee again,
After which the verse is chanted in chorus by
all present They then dash the cider into the
she throws the plum-cahe on the ground, and If
it falls forward, it is en- omen that the next har
vest will be good; II backward, that it will be
unfavorabls. This the commencement of
the rural feast, which was generally prolonged
till the following morning.
Christmas in America is the popular time for
moon. as little is thought of but gayety until
the New Year has begun. The presentation of
boxes is also much in vogue, But the peculiar
feature of an American Christmas is the egg
nogg and free lunch, distributed at all the cafes
and hotels on Christmas day; and it is needless
to say that many, especially the epicures of the
town. flock to the festive boards where large
tables spread out with a luxury and delicacy
specially given TO the Christmas cuisine
The following account of Chistmas day in
Baltimore, fifty years ago, is given by Mr. j.
Pickering in his narrative of six years residence
and travel in North America: '.Instead of ring
ing of bells, etc, as in England: There but
few bells here to ringl 1t was ushered in by fir
ing of guns, squibs and crackers all last night
and continues with intervals through the day
The moment arose this morning. was present
ed with glass of egg-nogg, as they termed it
a compound OF rum, eggs milk. and sugar-also
with einger-cake, and cake with raisins in it,
which is their Christina all for merry max
ing and parties / was pressed to one in the
evening with the captain and his wife-a num-
Der of fine females and their beaux present.
The time was spent with variety of plays,
singing songs, playing on the piano, eating cake.
drinking toddy. ach-brandy, ETC.; quite So
ciable party. the female part easy and appar-
emily unaffected; broke MP early by the request
of our host, the next day being Sunday. Amer
leans use little ceremony, except the introduc-
tion by shaking hands. ETC.; each leaves table as
ne has done eating, aud they eener-
ally quick; bidding ight other cere-
mony. on going to bed"
The old practice of hanging up the mistletoe at
the approach of the 25th of Decem Der still pre-
walls TO the present day, though few of us
aware how the custom originated. The reason
is traced back to Scandinavian mythology, and
is explained thus: Balder, the Apollo of North
mythology. was hated by Loki, the god OF
mischief, and of our earth. Loki wished TO in
jure Balder, but all that springs from fire,
air earth and water" had been sworn not to in
jure Balder, there was little left with which TO
do mischief. However, the wicked Loki be-
thought him OF the mistletoe and he gave to the
blind deity, Holder, a twig of mistletoe that he
had fashioned into arrow, instructing him
how to throw il at Balder at a feast that was
being held in his honor when all were to throw
missiles at the beautiful Balder to show how i'm
possible it was to injure him. But Holders piece
of mistletoe mot having been sworn). directed by
Loki, killed Balder. who only restored to life
at the earnest request of tho gods The goddess
Friga or FreYa. she is sometimes called
henceforth took charge of the mistletoe, which
could not again do harm until 1t touched EARTH
the dominion of Loki. Hence 1T is that the mis-
tletoe is suspended and persons passing under 1t
give each other the kiss of peace and love. It
has, however. always been held in honor, and in
the days Of our ancestors with the deepest ven
GRAFTON. We find by the allusion of Virgil, who
compared the golden bough in Hades TO the mis-
tletoe that the of this plant not
known also TO the Greeks in their religious
monies
Il is at Xmas that 1.-The waits" who are but
Indifferent substitutes for the carols of early
times. appear the scene. with their not al
ways most musical Instruments; that the
childish treble of some little comes to re-
mind us of the reason of their song. And there
is something both pathetic and pleasing in listen